Jordan says he'll be history if Bulls rebuild

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Michael Jordan is taking Phil Jackson's departure as a sign the Chicago Bulls are rebuilding. And he wants no part of that.

"I don't want to start over. I'm pretty sure losing Phil is a sign of that," Jordan said Saturday at a news conference before teeing off at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Classic. "So I can tell you where my mind is leaning in some respects. ... I don't want a rebuilding process."

Jordan once said he would only play for Jackson, though he softened that stance toward the end of the season. And when the coach made good Monday on his season-long threat to leave, Jordan said his decision also depended on the future of teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.

Jordan, Pippen and Rodman are free agents, as are six other players on Chicago's 12-man playoff roster. Pippen, believing he's been undervalued and underappreciated by Chicago management, has said repeatedly that he wouldn't return to the Bulls. But he, too, has wavered, saying that he would be open-minded if everyone else came back.

Rodman wants to return, but only if Jordan and Pippen do.

While Jordan said Saturday he might be leaning one way, he wants to weigh his options and hasn't reached a final decision.

"My decision is coming very quickly. And I know this time I want to evaluate all options, and I don't want to make a rush judgment," he said. "Yes, I've said all along that if Phil is not my coach there's no way I can play. And I'm pretty firm with that."

Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said during the NBA Finals that he wants to keep the same team as long as its winning championships, and general manager Jerry Krause repeated that Saturday.

"It's like I've said before, we want to try and bring the team back. But we don't control that," Krause said at the Bulls' practice facility.

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